Our fresh graduands are about to share the experience of most of our co-workers¡ªbusyness. It is the norm for a minister to be overwhelmed by the unceasing demands of ministry.
Called by our Lord Jesus Christ to serve his flock selflessly and wholeheartedly, we should indeed be ¡°busy¡± with ministry. However, when busyness in ministry has a negative impact on our spiritual, emotional, and physical health, it will be detrimental to us, our co-workers, and everyone we hold dear.
How then may we avoid unhealthy busyness in ministry? Allow me to share with you three suggestions.
1. Identify the One Thing
Out of his deep love and care for his disciple, Paul instructs the young pastor Timothy with many do¡¯s and don¡¯ts:
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Tim 4:15¨C16 NIV)
From the immediate context, we can tell that ¡°these matters¡± are the typical tasks of the pastor¡ªteaching, preaching, serving, and leading. Yet, there is one thing that undergirds all these matters, which Paul mentions earlier in his epistle:
Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
? ?? He appeared in the flesh,
???? was vindicated by the Spirit,
???? was seen by angels,
???? was preached among the nations,
???? was believed on in the world,
???? was taken up in glory. (1 Tim 3:16 NIV)
The one thing that Paul urges Timothy to align all the demands of ministry with is Jesus Christ, the source of godliness, in whom we take root and grow and flourish!
2. Align with the One Thing
Brothers and sisters, never lose sight of the One, Jesus Christ, who saved us and called us to serve his church. We could end up in crisis, minor or major, if we lose sight of him as our focus and purpose in our everyday life and ministry.
We lose focus partly because we lose sight of our priorities. We are often too eager to give ourselves to people and ministry, but do not give enough time and space for knowing and managing ourselves in a godly manner.
The highest priority for any minister should be to know myself, so as to manage myself, before giving myself! We can do this by planning for regular sabbatical rest and spiritual growth, journeying with confidants, and feeding on the word of God continually.
3. Be Stabilized by the One Thing
There are a myriad of issues to be faced in the church and the mission field, such as sacred-secular divides; LGBTQ+; religious extremism; aging congregations; weakening youth ministries; leadership succession; fierce debates on the deity of Jesus, authenticity of Adam, creation of humankind, and origins of the universe; and the brave new world of big data, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, and robotics. How should we respond to these challenges with our equipping and training?
If we think of our life and ministry as the sea and what we do day in and day out as a boat, we need to secure the vessel when the waves get rough and unpredictable. Our anchor would be the truth and values we uphold in our faith and practice. The chain that links the boat to the anchor would be the depth and breadth of our knowledge, skills, methodology, and wisdom. The rougher the sea, the longer must the chain be for the boat to be stabilized.
In other words, only the one thing can stabilize us¡ªonly the one him! We must uphold the truth and values of the One Lord Jesus Christ, such that they define our Christian faith and practices. We must keep learning and deepening the knowledge and skills that concern our faith and ministry, delve deeply into subjects, expand our horizons, and apply our learning in real-life contexts. In doing so, we will lengthen the chain and thus be ever more stable amid the roughest challenges.
Now, Set Off with the One!
My dear co-workers in Christ, what a boat is really made for is to sail on the sea¡ªso let us now set sail by focusing on the direction and purpose set by the One!
We are setting off together with him, each on our own course, and we will all meet again one day on that far-off shore. Bon voyage!
